V8SDS: Howard Racing Clipsal Thursday notes

Reigning Champions top Fujitsu V8 Supercar Practice
Reigning Fujitsu V8 Supercar Champions Howard Racing Team are off to a
sensation start at Round 1 of the 2007 Series at the Clipsal 500
Adelaide, with new recruit Andrew Thompson posting the ...

Reigning Champions top Fujitsu V8 Supercar Practice

Reigning Fujitsu V8 Supercar Champions Howard Racing Team are off to a
sensation start at Round 1 of the 2007 Series at the Clipsal 500
Adelaide, with new recruit Andrew Thompson posting the fastest overall
time during today's two practice sessions.

The expanded three-car Gold Coast based team enjoyed a very successful
opening day at the Adelaide Parklands circuit with Team Owner Mark
Howard and team mate Adam Sharpe also circulating within the top ten
throughout practice.

While pleased with his performance today, nineteen year-old Thompson was
sure there was still more to come for qualifying.

"We are exactly where we want to be right now," Thompson
explained.

"We concentrated on getting the car right and making sure it was
well balanced through the first practice session then moved onto lap
times and race runs during the second session.

"While we posted the quickest time I still didn't quite get
the lap I wanted in, due to red fags and other interruptions throughout
the session. We will make a few little changes tonight and look forward
to qualifying tomorrow." Thompson said.

After featuring consistently in the top ten throughout Practice 1, a
broken clutch prematurely cut short Adam Sharpe's second practice
session with the Brit only completing a handful of laps on very old
tyres.

"We had a really good opening practice session where I was in and
out of the top ten," Sharpe said.

"Unfortunately the broken clutch in Practice 2 meant I was only
able to complete a limited number of laps on old tyres."

"It is a little frustrating as my result in P2 is not a true
indication of where we are at but I expect somewhere around where Mark
(Howard) is on green tyres tomorrow."

For Mark Howard today's results were extremely positive, the busy
Property Developer recorded the 12th quickest time in the opening
session and bettered it by finishing 10th in Practice 2.

"I was very happy with the car although I am still a little
tentative in spots but it is the first round back after a three month
break and I have a chance to improve on this throughout
qualifying," Howard said.

"The whole team is off to a great start and I am very happy with
the performance of both of our new drivers.

"It was a shame Adam didn't get the chance to show the true
potential we believe he has but I have no doubt he will be up in the top
ten tomorrow.

After some very long nights preparing the three Howard Racing Ford
Falcon BA's for the opening round of the season Team Manager
Warren Davis had nothing but praise for his hard working team.

"With expanding to three cars we have some new team members and I
am thrilled with the way they have all gelled," Davis said.

"This event is probably the hardest one we do all year and it was
not easy for the guys coming off the back of two very long weeks."

"We are off to a great start but we can't get ahead of
ourselves, tomorrow our aim it to get all three cars into the top
ten." Davis added.

The Fujitsu Series V8 Supercars will qualify at 12.30pm tomorrow with
the first of two 24-lap races to be held at 6.20pm.